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The charts are loud but the dance floor tells the truth.

In this episode, Brian B and Joe break down one of the biggest gaps working DJs face: what people stream vs what people actually move to at private events. Billboard, Spotify, TikTok, Apple Music, Shazam - they all paint a picture. But it’s not the picture that keeps a room dancing at 10:30pm.

We dig into why certain chart monsters like Taylor Swift dominate listens but don’t always land in peak moments, while catalog cuts like Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” keep sneaking their way back into emotional singalongs. We also unpack why the “big crossover party rap records” of the 2010s have all but vanished and how that flips the modern DJ playbook on its head.

You’ll hear how we use chart data for smarter programming without getting trapped by it:

• What TikTok trends can teach you and what to ignore
• Why Shazam spikes matter more than streams
• How seasonal revivals (Janet Jackson?!) can surprise your sets
• Which covers and edits refresh ceremony + dinner without killing vibe
• The remixes that bridge decades without wrecking energy or key

We also talk business. Brian shares a hospitality hack every working DJ should keep in their bag: individually wrapped earplugs that turn complaints into gratitude (and sometimes gratuity) instantly. And for owners dealing with the nightmare of losing a key team member, we map a calm, practical path forward: internal promotion, admin support, and avoiding the panic hire.

If you’re a private event DJ who wants to read the room, not the rankings, this episode will give you the tools to select smarter, respond faster, and build dance floors that don’t lie.

Subscribe to our Patreon for early access, grab our weekly banger lists, and drop a review with the track that’s unexpectedly crushing for you right now and we’ll test it live.

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RESOURCES & LINKS

Our website. Please leave a review! - https://www.beyondthedjbooth.com/
To book Joe Bunn: https://bunndjcompany.com/
To book Brian B: https://djbrianbofficial.com/
Joe’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djjoebunn
Brian’s Gear Finds on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/djbrianbofficial
DJ Event Planner free demo: https://www.djeventplanner.com/signup.php
Brian B's Coaching Options: Https://www.thdjscreativeedge.com